Craven Plays More Like a Veteran

It was the rivalry in microcosm, UCLA with the reputation and USC with something to prove. A Trojan won this battle too.

Errick Craven showed he was the best freshman on the court, eclipsing UCLA’s touted trio of Cedric Bozeman, Dijon Thompson and Andre Patterson.

And during the last few minutes, the guard from Torrance Bishop Montgomery High was the best player on the court of any age, experience or reputation.

Craven made a three-point shot to break a 64-64 tie, then seconds later stole a pass and drove nearly the length of the floor for a layup for a five-point lead with 2:54 to play.

He wasn’t done. After a UCLA basket, Craven drove into traffic and made an acrobatic scoop shot to make the score 71-66.

And finally he did it with defense, combining with Desmon Farmer to cause Billy Knight to travel with 1:41 left.

Craven had 13 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes, while the UCLA freshmen were held scoreless in a combined 17 minutes.

“I just wanted to win,” Craven said. “Those guys are great players and deserve accolades. I wasn’t trying to overshadow them.”

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Not Jason Kapono. Not Knight. UCLA had one sharpshooter on the floor and it was forward Matt Barnes, who scored a career-high 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting.

He made seven three-point baskets, four more than his previous career best.

“Any night, somebody can get hot and it was my turn,” he said. “When you lose, it’s hard to feel good about it, but I’m proud I went up against Sam Clancy, one of the best forwards in the country and scored like that.”

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USC was tougher on the boards and rougher setting picks, but Trojan guard Brandon Granville suffered the only injury. He was hit in the right eye less than two minutes into the game, but not only did he remain on the floor, he made a big play a minute later.

Granville grabbed a long offensive rebound, spun and knocked Knight onto his backside, then sank a three-point basket.

He hurt the eye again with nine minutes play and sat out until Coach Henry Bibby needed him to make free throws in the last two minutes. Granville made five of six in the final minute and finished with 18 points.

“I was seeing triple,” he said. “But I had time on the free throws to get my vision and made the shots.”

UP NEXT FOR UCLA

Saturday vs. Kansas (13-1), Noon, Channel 2--The No. 1 Jayhawks have not lost since dropping their opener to Ball State at the Maui Invitational. The next day, UCLA also lost to Ball State. Kansas boasts perhaps the nation’s best pair of forwards in Drew Gooden (20.6 points, 12.4 rebounds) and Nick Collison (15.6, 8.6).